Peace Connections News

  28th Cohort of Getting Ahead Graduates! Pictured from left to right: Matthew Gordy, Director Kendra Davila, Crystal Sollenberger, Sarah Bridger, Beth King, Class Facilitator Trianna Cowden, Jeff Browning, Valencia Hernandez, Levi Southern, Benjamin Brown, and Amber Southern. Graduates not pictured: Tammy Southern and MaryEllen Southern.   On August 5th, Harvey County Circle of Hope celebrated the graduation of eleven hard-working students from the Getting Ahead financial management and goal-setting class. This class was proof once again of how impactful this process can be on self-respect and personal determination. This group of people have been faithfully gathering on Tuesday evenings to explore their finances, causes of poverty, developing goals, and building hope for their futures. Now matched with their Volunteer Allies, they are moving on to their next steps: college classes, fitness journeys, home ownership and fiscal stability. These matches will persist for the...

Widening the Circle Pictured above: Melodie Tucker (center, red vest) smiles joyfully as graduates celebrate. Story by Tom James.      Melodie Tucker grew up in a home that valued budgeting and money management, and she reached adulthood with sound financial habits and confidence in her ability to thrive in this world. She married, as many of us do, with the hope of working from that solid foundation and building a secure home for her family. Sadly, those plans didn't work out. After years in a difficult and sometimes abusive marriage, she was left with massive debt, low self-image and an ex-husband who refused to contribute to raising or supporting their children beyond the barest minimum required by law. The grief of a failed marriage and the helplessness of her financial situation sent most of that early training by the wayside. Melodie knew that she had to get back to her upbringing, but without a local support structure, she knew she would need help to get ...

Creating Possible Futures Dreams, Goals, and Aspirations for Harvey County      Harvey County Circle of Hope is a relationship-based poverty-reduction program geared toward individuals working to escape poverty. While the main focus is financial management and goal setting, many conversations steer toward collective resources and information. This focus shifts the narrative away from individual blame or failure and toward a place where people from various backgrounds can work together to solve the systemic barriers that keep families in poverty. This higher-level view of poverty engages a wide audience and each person becomes part of the solution!      Participants recently completed a Possible Selves/Possible Trees activity, which involved tracing their roots to community resources and strengths, identifying trunks of support (beliefs and attitudes), and naming the fruits (dreams and goals) that come as they continue to nurture their tree (themselves and t...

  Jesus knew five loaves and two fish could not feed 5,000 people. Nevertheless, he stretched the disciples’ faith by asking them to provide supper from these tiny staples. Crowds gathered to hear Jesus teach and learn how to live the message he was sharing. When the crowds departed, they had been fed physically and spiritually. The gatherings of people who are cared for and each shown a different way of life. The same could be said of the crowds that gather on Tuesday evenings at Circle of Hope, as each participant comes searching for nourishment and connection. To help forge a practical miracle today in Newton, we are making a call for supper donors. We invite cooks to prepare a meal for the Tuesday gatherings, of 60-80 persons, who gather at First United Methodist Church every week. These meals bring families into the program as they build hope into their future stories and close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Though it will help with rising food costs...

  Just as the signs of change and hope of Spring are appearing outside, so are the hope and signs of change emerging at Circle of Hope! The 26th cohort of the Getting Ahead Financial Management Class is anticipating their graduation and gleefully discussing the possibilities of their future. As the class members got to know each other, they took a deep dive into their finances and various causes of poverty, they discussed the importance of setting goals and discovered their courage and tenacity, encouraged by facilitators Melodie Tucker and Chris Allen. Everyone in the room is working toward something, whether it is building relationships or a stronger financial base, the desire for change is one that unites us all. This dedication, commitment, and drive in each individual is something we are going to celebrate, as each participant is writing hope into the future story. Please help us honor this hard work by joining their upcoming graduation on February 20th at First United Methodi...

John Sommer confesses that before he became a volunteer ally with Circle of Hope, he wasn’t exposed to people who hadn’t been raised in a middle-class environment. Since becoming an Ally- a person who accompanies a Circle of Hope participant for 18 months while he or she sets and meets goals in building a stronger future some of his blinders have been peeled away. “Being an Ally has brought me into direct contact and relationship with people I would not otherwise have run into,” John said. “It is helping me get involved with the lives of people- and they with mine- in ways that foster new human connections. “By connecting with people outside my normal sphere, I have been enriched and educated. I once attributed poverty to laziness and a lack of direction. What I have learned is that larger socio-economic forces- such as racism and lack of access to healthcare and educational opportunities contribute greatly to a generational family pattern that is hard to break.” During the 10 years th...

(Originally Published Tuesday, May 09, 2023) Jacob Easley first learned about Harvey County Circle of Hope in 2011 through a friend, another program participant, who invited him to an evening program and dinner. Jacob came to the dinner but slipped out before the program. Five years later, Jacob returned to the program with another attendee, but this time he stayed for dinner and the program. He liked what he heard. Jacob quickly signed up for a financial management class offered as part of the robust program. He wanted to learn how to budget, to set goals, AND stick to them! Jacob and five others attended the 15-week Getting Ahead Class where they learned all about financial and social capital, causes of poverty, and re-examined their community.  After the Getting Ahead Class, Jacob was matched with three Allies: John, Marvin, and Deb. These three volunteers walked alongside Jacob as he made progress on his goals, offered insight and advice when needed, and provided a listeni...

  (Originally Published Wednesday, September 20, 2023) By Laurie Oswald-Robinson      When symbolizing world peace, a global image arises, though you can pinpoint a spot on the prairie on Google Maps where a local non-profit called Peace Connections is based in Newton.      It’s not that Peace Connections, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, hasn’t concerned itself with the big issues of violence, poverty, and injustice. It’s just that its way of connecting with the world was from its perch in south-central Kansas, where it’s sought to care about both global and local concerns.      The non-profit’s first missions when launched in 1983 focused on the global family – nuclear arms and refugees – from its office above Druber’s Donuts on Sixth Street. Forty years later, Peace Connections makes its home in the Red Door Building on Pine Street where it foremost serves local families and builds relationships across all strata of the immed...

  (Originally Published Wednesday, September 20, 2023) The 25th cohort of the Getting Ahead Class for Harvey County Circle of Hope (COH) recently completed the 15-week financial management class. This is the 25th class of courageous individuals who knew they had the potential to write hope into their own future story. They are individuals exploring the discrepancy between what is and what could be. They are now part of a community, 200-plus strong of graduates who are increasing their income, paying off debt, stabilizing their lives, and building better futures for themselves and their families. As the class members learn to manage their money, they are also learning to set goals. One individual noted it was the first time she could remember setting a goal for something that couldn't happen in that same week. That meant building her capacity to plan for the future. The nine graduates were Amanda Pontious, Blake Bowin, Brenda Lee, Gerald Goddard, Ian Long, Julia Long, Rickie Wilbour...

  (Originally Published Tuesday, May 09, 2023) Since Harvey County Circle of Hope began in 2009, the program has been a vital asset for the Harvey County community. Celebrating the 25th cohort of the Getting Ahead Class as Peace Connections celebrates 40 years of positively impacting our community. It is a milestone worth celebrating! There have been many ups and downs, celebrations, and uncertainties during this time, and it seems change is the only constant we can rely on today. We have a new Getting Ahead Class Facilitator to introduce- Melodie Tucker! Tucker graduated from Getting Ahead in February 2022 and has been making tremendous strides toward her goals and building strong relationships with peers. Melodie brings pep and realness to class discussions, offering valuable insight and reflection while fostering meaningful discussions and connections. Her first class is just weeks away from graduating- and we would appreciate your attendance to support this work and recognize t...

  (Originally Published Monday, November 14, 2022) Peace Connections participated in the 2022 United Way Chili Cook-Off on September 24, 2022. Our dynamic kitchen crew from Circle of Hope, consisting of Trianna Cowden, Tracy Duffman, Margaret Goering, and Terrie Fuller, cooked a delicious and smoky Green Pork Chili that was voted #1 in the People's Choice Category. Our booth was decorated in a 'Going Green' theme with trees borrowed from a local nursery. We are grateful to participate in this United Way event, as it brings partners and community members together and spreads awareness of United Way of Harvey County, one of our biggest supporters! We are also grateful to Everence for sponsoring our booth and all of you for stopping by, trying our chili, and engaging with us at this event!

 ( Originally Published Wednesday, May 11, 2022) Harvey County Circle of Hope has been growing into its mission for 13 years, finding a place and voice in the community while fostering connection in a variety of ways. This program wouldn’t be possible without the investment of hundreds of volunteers and community partners, specifically without the space offered by First United Methodist Church (FUMC), which has given the program a home. Having dedicated space to meet, a kitchen to cook, classrooms to teach, childcare rooms with age-appropriate toys, and seemingly limitless tables to converse has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of persons across Harvey County. The 23rd Getting Ahead Class is set to graduate next month, and innumerable meals have been served out of their kitchen. Recognizing the abundance of resources available, FUMC made an offer in 2009 to open its doors for the program and provide space for it to grow. Circle of Hope naturally integrated into the church...

(Originally Published Thursday, February 17, 2022)    December 2021 saw a graduation rate of 100% for our 22nd Cohort of the Getting Ahead Class. Patricia, pictured below, received her certificate of achievement along with seven others. These class members learned alongside one another for 15 weeks and are already making strong progress working toward their goals. Congratulations to each of them as they continue to build relationships, resources, and resilience. This class also enjoyed the presence of Hesston College Nursing students, all working to complete their community-based medicine practicum. The nursing students were able to share their passion for health, hear stories of lived experiences, and gain insight from the class members.